Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 203

Okay. Now, let’s hear Amelie’s thoughts on her return. Amelie, would you like to come forward and share your aspirations?”

At Natalie’s words, now acting as the emcee, Amelie tossed her neatly braided green hair back and stepped forward. With a relaxed gaze, she scanned the tense journalists and gave a brief statement.

“Hello, I’m Amelie. I’ve returned to be the best again. I look forward to working with you all.”

Her words filled the faces of everyone in the banquet hall with excitement. They never dreamed they would hear that arrogant tone again. She was revered as the best gladiator, but she also provided reporters with countless stories with her confident and outstanding eloquence.

However, confidence had to be backed by skill. If someone with mediocre skills said such things, it would be seen as arrogance, and the media would turn into an implacable enemy.

A black-haired reporter looked at Natalie and waved his hand frantically, signaling his request to ask a question.

“Yes, go ahead.”

With her permission, the black-haired reporter immediately shouted,

“Amelie! In the 30 years since you retired, the gladiatorial world has made many advancements. For example, the number of gladiators using whips has decreased significantly compared to when you were active. That means the efficiency of whip techniques has greatly declined in the modern gladiatorial world! In this situation, do you still think you can become the best gladiator?”

Amelie immediately scoffed and replied,

“Of course, I acknowledge that the gladiatorial world has made many advancements. I’ve been watching modern gladiatorial matches on TV frequently. However, I absolutely cannot agree with the statement that whip techniques are no longer viable. The reason why whips are not used much these days is not because modern gladiatorial tactics have adapted to whip techniques, but because there is no one skilled enough to succeed me. In fact, the utility of whip techniques has increased even more due to the use of tactics with lower density to enhance diversity. Whether you know it or not, no team dared to adopt a free-roaming strategy in front of me 30 years ago. They would have been sacrificed to my whip. And I’ve returned in an even better form than before. I’ve taken whip techniques to the next level. The pro gladiator teams that face me will now have to experience fear, as they are specialized in tactics that reduce their response to whip techniques, and I’m much stronger than I was in the past.”

“Oh, really? How much stronger? Can you show us now?”

“I can’t show you a full demonstration given the occasion, but I can show you some tricks. Would you mind extending both hands forward with your palms up?”

The black-haired reporter awkwardly extended his palms towards the sky.

“Like this?”

“Yes. And close your eyes. Don’t open them under any circumstances.”

As the reporter closed his eyes as instructed, Amelie leisurely pulled out the two whips coiled around her waist and looked towards Natalie. In front of her was a slightly raised platform with a glass of water and an electronic pen on it.

Amelie smiled faintly and lightly swung both hands. At the same time, the tips of the two whips flew like arrows, snatched the glass of water and the pen, and placed them precisely on the palms of the reporter who had asked the question, without spilling a drop of water.

“Wow!”

“Amazing. That’s Amelie for you. It’s as if the two whips moved as freely as hands.”

“I agree. This is definitely big news. Amelie reborn with dual-whip techniques. The viewers will find it very interesting.”

The audience was amazed and exclaimed at this simple but incredible sight. She had shown such feats in the past, but that was when she was using a single whip. Now, she was showcasing a new dual-whip technique, clearly demonstrating that her skills had advanced to the next level.

Bumsuk was the same, but worry preceded admiration. The thought that the God Knights would be the victims of that technique made him uneasy. Now, those who faced her had to prepare for not one, but two whips.

“Dual-whip techniques beyond single-whip-single-sword techniques… This is driving me crazy.”

Director Vincent, who overheard his muttering, said quietly,

“Huhu. Dual-whip techniques are just a show. They can never surpass single-whip-single-sword techniques.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Hmm. It’s nothing much. I’m just saying that the reason Amelie only showed dual-whip techniques is because she judged that there was no need to show her single-whip-single-sword techniques. She currently believes that there is no one in the entire league who can match her single-whip-single-sword techniques. Perhaps, in my opinion, you will never see her single-whip-single-sword techniques in actual combat unless someone threatens her top position.”

Bumsuk gritted his teeth nervously. If it included the entire league, he was included as well.

“Is it arrogance? Or confidence?”

“No, it’s just the best strategy. Dual-whip techniques are the best for slaughtering the weak. Hahaha.”

“The weak? But I am not one of the weak.”

Vincent glanced at him and nodded. He, of course, and Amelie could not ignore Bumsuk. In fact, the reason she debuted in the Wide League, which belongs to the lower league, was because she was concerned about Bumsuk. After all, he had defeated Rebecca, who had mastered a variant swordsmanship in a single match.

“Well, that’s true. But Amelie’s variant swordsmanship will not be easy to deal with. There is a big difference in swordsmanship proficiency, and you have to keep the whip attacks in mind.”

“We’ll see about that. No one knows who has the upper hand until we face each other.”

“Oh, really? That’s a lot of confidence. But you know you have something to do first, right?”

“You mean I should break through the dual-whip techniques before you use the single-whip-single-sword techniques?”

Vincent smiled faintly.

“Good eye. Please don’t disappoint Amelie. She has high expectations for you.”

“I’ll make her terrified beyond expectations, so tell her to be prepared.”

“Huhu. Really? Then I’ll look forward to it.”

Vincent put his hands behind his back and listened to the conversation between the reporter and Amelie. He couldn’t just focus on the battle of wills with Bumsuk at such a historic moment. After all, he would become the director of the world’s strongest gladiator team in the future, so he had to maintain the dignity befitting that position.

“Amelie! What’s your favorite food?”

“Ham steak.”

“What do you do on your days off?”

“I sit quietly next to my master.”

The conversation between the reporter and Amelie was now moving on to trivial matters, asking about her personal life. Natalie thought it was about time to make a real impact. The opportunity to put Bumsuk in the spotlight had arrived.

“Reporters, we will give you another opportunity to ask questions after all the scheduled events are over, so please stop the Q&A session for now. Thank you for your understanding.”

The reporters looked disappointed, but soon fell silent. Although it was somewhat lacking, they had obtained enough desired information to cover it with minor questions.

Natalie thanked them politely and looked at Amelie.

“Amelie, you will be active here in the Delroy Wide League. Is there any gladiator you consider a rival?”

“No.”

The foreign reporters who filled the banquet hall nodded in agreement, as if it were an obvious answer. Amelie, who was once the world’s strongest and had returned with even more advanced skills, would not consider anyone in this lower league a rival.

“Oh, really? Why?”

“Because no gladiator can be my rival.”

“That’s a lot of confidence. But I don’t think so. There is a cyborg gladiator named Oh Bumsuk from Lima City in this Delroy Wide League.”

Amelie glanced at Bumsuk once and replied,

“But he’s in the weak team, God Knights. No matter how strong he is, he can’t win against me because he’s not supported by those around him.”

The venue became noisy in an instant. The foreign reporters were surprised that the arrogant Amelie acknowledged someone as strong in this small Delroy Wide League, and the reporters based in the Delroy area were encouraged by the fact that a gladiator from their area was recognized by the legend.

Natalie briefly calmed the excited atmosphere of the banquet hall and asked another question.

“If you fought Oh Bumsuk in a one-on-one match, who do you think would win?”

After pondering for a moment, Amelie replied,

“I’ve never faced him directly, so I don’t know for sure, but I think I have a 90% chance of winning.”

Hearing that, Natalie looked at Bumsuk.

“Gladiator Oh Bumsuk, Amelie is 90% confident of winning. What are your thoughts?”

He glared at Amelie and said in a confident tone,

“If she uses the dual-whip techniques she just showed, I will definitely win. Dual-whip techniques are a type of whip technique. The moment a close-quarters battle occurs, she will be defeated by a swordsman, and I am confident that I will seize that opportunity.”

As the sharp confrontation between the two gladiators continued, the reporters’ hands moved faster, intrigued. The unknown strongman acknowledged by Amelie was expressing confidence that he could beat her. It was just considered unfounded confidence, but it didn’t matter as it could add a lot of spice to Amelie’s comeback article.

Seeing this, Natalie decided to intensify the conflict between the two. The atmosphere was ripe enough.

“Director Vincent, may I ask you one question?”

Vincent glanced at her cautiously.

“Ask me anything.”

“I understand that Chaplin Whisper and God Knights will face each other in the opening match. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, do you have any intention of putting Amelie in that match?”

Vincent felt the reporters’ gazes focused on him and wore a troubled expression. It wasn’t that he couldn’t put her in the match, but he felt like he was falling into a trap. For some reason, the emcee seemed to be very eager for a clash between Bumsuk and Amelie.

“Hmm. If Amelie wants to participate, I’ll consider it.”

“Hahaha. That’s great.”

Natalie turned her gaze to Amelie.

“Then I’ll ask Amelie. Of course, you’d want to participate, right?”

She nodded immediately. Because it was so cleverly woven, if she denied it here, she could be misunderstood as being afraid of Bumsuk. And she wanted to face him at least once.

“Yes. I have a debt to collect from him. I wanted to fight him once before going to the upper league.”

“Oh, really? What’s that debt?”

“He rudely defeated my beloved disciple and master’s daughter, Miss Rebecca, at the Osaha Martial Arts Tournament. I must get the price for that.”

It was the moment when a simple skill competition transformed into a revenge match with a story. The reporters were busy writing articles, thinking this was a windfall, and Natalie smiled triumphantly, having gained another advantage.

She looked at Director Vincent again and said,

“Director Vincent, may I ask you one favor?”

Vincent nodded with an uneasy look.

“What is it? I’ll consider it if it’s not an unreasonable request.”

“Yes. Thank you. In fact, as Amelie said earlier, God Knights’ strength is weak, so I think it will be difficult for them to beat the Chaplin Whisper team. In this light, Gladiator Oh Bumsuk will probably face Amelie in an extremely unfavorable situation.”

“Isn’t that obvious? Gladiator matches are team-versus-team battles.”

“Yes. So I’d like to make a suggestion. Do you have any intention of invoking a one-on-one duel?”

A one-on-one duel was a method in which gladiators representing each team came out to determine the victory or defeat of the round. It was a rule created when gladiatorial combat was first professionalized, and it was very popular with fans in the early days, but it was also a clause that was deleted due to the occurrence of enormous side effects. Because the ace’s performance determined the game, gladiators with excellent skills saw their salaries and values rise significantly, while gladiators who were not saw relatively low values and salaries, resulting in a pronounced polarization phenomenon. In addition, most of the aces were gladiators with owners who had honed their swordsmanship with all their might. Professional teams, who did not want the value of their team-owned elves to fall, did not welcome the one-on-one rule at all.

“The one-on-one duel is a rule that disappeared not long after professional gladiatorial combat was created. We, as professionals, cannot arbitrarily conduct a one-on-one duel that is not even in the rules.”

“But if there is mutual agreement, there is a way.”

“What agreement?”

“Immediately after the game starts, only Oh Bumsuk and Amelie are left in the center, and everyone else goes to the outside of their respective arenas and does not interfere with the game. Do you know what I mean?”

In fact, unlike other martial arts tournaments, gladiatorial combat had no penalties for delaying the game. Whatever the means, as long as the desired result was obtained, even running away throughout the game was established as a role model. There was no way that sitting silently without fighting would be a foul.

However, there was a problem. Agreeing in advance on how to proceed with the match between the two teams was a fatal violation of the rules.

“Then it would be possible? However, coordinating the game through prior agreement is against the anti-match-fixing regulations. So I can never accept the emcee’s intentions.”

“Yes. I know that too. Of course, as a director, you shouldn’t accept my opinion. You thought well.”

At those words, the reporters in the venue looked very disappointed. Amelie’s one-on-one duel. It was really exciting just to imagine, but it looked like it was going to be washed away by the gladiatorial combat rules. It was a truly unfortunate thing for them.

However, Natalia’s words were not over yet.

“But are you willing to listen if the fans demand it enthusiastically during the game? I think this is okay because it’s not a prior agreement.”

He couldn’t deny this condition. It was common to change strategies according to the fans’ wishes, so it couldn’t be said to be a violation of the rules. And even if there was a problem, there was a high possibility that the association would turn a blind eye if it was caused by the fans’ enthusiasm.

Director Vincent gazed at Amelie and asked for her opinion. She nodded calmly, expressing her agreement.

“Good. I’ll consider it if the fans want it.”

“Hahaha. Thank you. Then I’ll look forward to the opening match.”

As soon as those words were finished, some reporters rushed out of the banquet hall. A conditionally agreed one-on-one duel between Amelie and the unknown strongman. It was the best material to decorate the legend’s return.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

Have a nice day, everyone. I’ll see you again tomorrow.